Do Cruise Ships Run On Gas?

Cruise ships consume a significant amount of fuel, with the largest ship at 360 meters long using almost double the fuel of an average vessel. Fuel quality, grade, and engine efficiency are crucial factors for cruise ships. The primary fuel for most cruise ships is diesel, but not just any diesel. A large cruise ship can carry up to two million gallons of fuel on board, while smaller cruise ships can hold around 130,000 gallons.

Cruise ships primarily use heavy fuel oil (HFO), marine diesel oil (MDO), or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel sources. Daily fuel consumption varies based on ship size, speed, itinerary, efficiency, regulations, amenities, and operating conditions. Cruise ships use either gas turbines, diesel-electric, or diesel engines for propulsion and electric power. Diesel engines are the most common type of fuel used by a ship.

Traditional cruise ships rely heavily on diesel (less than 0.1% sulfur) for their propulsion. Most cruise ships use a special type of diesel called marine diesel oil (MDO), made specifically for marine use. The ship is built to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuel but poses greater risks for environmental impact. LNG is considered a cleaner-burning fuel compared to traditional marine fuels, producing fewer emissions. However, some environmentalists worry that LNG-powered ships increase methane emissions.

While steam is a romantic idea, cruise ships are powered by diesel engines as standard, with three methods: direct drive, direct drive, and hybrid.